Velocipede



(No Model.)

' L. M. HOSEA;

Velooipede.

No. 228,996. Patented June 22,1880.

UNITE ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS M. HOSEA, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,996, dated June 22,1880.

Application filed April 22, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS M. HOSEA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of velocipedesemploying a drivingwheel operated by foot cranks, and one or moretrailing-wheels, and its object is to improve their construction andutility.

In these vehicles the driving-wheel is mounted in a swiveling support inorder to allow the wheel to be turned independently of the seat forsteering purposes; which construction and operation entails manywell-known disadvantages.

In my improved velocipede the drivin g-wheel does not swivelindependently of the seat-frame, but the relation of the seat-frameauddrivingwheel remains unchanged, the steering being effected by thosenatural and instinctive movements of the body and the resultingpositions of the vehicle which are assumed as a guard againstcentrifugal force in turning curves.

To this end my invention consists in mounting the driving-wheel in arigid seat-frame and connecting at the rear thereof a trailingwheelframe in such manner that the inclination of the main wheel from aperpendicular plane causes the trailing wheel or wheels to stand at ahorizontal angle therewith, and thus act as a rudder to steer thevehicle, and at the same time prevent oversetting.

It consists, also, in the additional provision, in combination with thedriving-wheel so mounted in a rigid frame, of double cranks and anactuating-seat and connections.

It consists, also, in certain details of construction hereinafterpointed out.

My invention is embodiedsin mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improvedvelocipede; Fig. 2, a front elevation of same;

Fig. 3, a plan view of same; and Fig. 4, a plan view of thetrailing-frame detached, having two trailing-wheels.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout thedrawings.

A indicates the main or driving wheel, and

(No model.)

B the trailing-wheel, of my improved velocipede. The main wheelA ismounted between two uprights, O G, which have their bearing upon theaxle a, and are secured above the wheel by a cross-piece, D, which formsthe handle and support for the rider. An arched bar, E, is securedbetween the uprights G (3, just over the wheel, and extends thence tothe rear parallel with the periphery of the wheel.

Horizontal braces b b on either side of the driving-wheel support thelower part of the arch-bar E from the axle a, or from the uprights 0,the parts 0 O E and braces b b forming a rigid frame, in which thedrivingwheel A revolves, carrying the drivin g-cran ks c c at theextremities of the rigid axle to outside of the uprights 0, providedwith the usual wrists and foot-rests. The lower rear extremity of thearch-bar E is prolonged below the horizontal braces b 12 into a pintlestanding in the plane of the driving-wheel, but somewhat out of thevertical line, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon' ever the two frames are placedat an angle with each other, and, vice versa, the inclination of themain frame will throw the trailing-frame into such angle with it.

It will be readily understood, therefore, that as the rider, by allowinghis weight to act on one side or the other, can produce the desiredinclination of the main frame, he can thus manipulate thetrailing-frame, which becomes a rudder to the vehicle and determines itsrelative course. As the movements of the body for this purpose arenatural and instinctive as a guard against centrifugal force in turningcurves, the steering of the vehicle is easily accomplished.

The remaining feature of my invention relates to an actuating-seat andits attachments.

The seat G is mounted on two lovers, 9 g, which are pivoted to thearch-bar E in the rear of the uprights 0'. To the forward end of thelevers g are pivoted connecting-rods It,

which connect them with the intermediate wrists of the cranks c 0.

When the actuating-seat G is used with the velocipede the cranks of thedriving-wheel are set in the same radial relation with the axle.

It will be readily seen that when the vehicle is in motion the seat willrise and fall, and that the alternate transfer of the riders weight fromthe actuating-seat to the foot-cranks at proper intervals will propelthe vehicle. The actuating-seat and connections may be dispensed withand the vehicle used in the same manneras ordinary velocipedes, with thefootcranks set at right angles with each other.

The operation of my improved velocipede has already been indicated. Itwill be observed that it is necessary that the trailing frame and wheelshould remain always in a vertical plane, and this is more easilyaccomplished by using two trailing-wheels, as shown in Fig. 4. But witha little skill, soon acquired by the operator, a bicycle constructed asdescribed can be actuated in the desired manner with ease and certainty,for as soon as the trailing-frame is thrown at 'an angle to theseat-frame, which may be done by a slight movement or twist of theriders body, the weight of the rider on the hinge tends to increase thatangle and cause the vehicle to travel in a small circle. But as suchtendency is counteracted by the tendency of the trailingwheel to followits leader in a straight line, the rider can easily dispose his body soas to govern these opposing forces at his will.

Having described myinvention, I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent- 1. A velocipede consisting, essentially, oftwo frames, onecontaining the driving-Wheel and riders seat and the other a trailingWheel or wheels,'said frames being hinged together between the wheels ina vertical plane, and arranged to be thrown into horizontal angles witheach other by the inclination of the drivin g-wheel frame from theperpendicular, thus actuating the trailing-frame as a rudder forsteering purposes, as set forth.

2. The driving-wheel A and supportingframe, consisting of uprights O C,arch-bar E, and braces b b, in combination with the trailin g-frame F,pivoted upon the arch-bar in rear of the driving-wheel, and carrying oneor more wheels, B, as set forth.

3. In a velocipede consisting, essentially, of a driving-wheel and oneor more trailingwheels, mounted in independent frames hinged togetherbetween said wheels, an actuating rising and falling seat, connected bypitmen with the driving-cranks, and arranged above the driving-wheel, sothat the rider seated thereon can apply his weight alternately directlyto the seat and cranks, as set forth.

4. In combination with the driving-wheel and trailing-wheels, havingtheir frames hinged, and operating as shown and described, the seat G,pivoted to the arch-bar E, connectingrods 7th, and double cranks G G,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LEWIS M. HOSEA.

\Vitnesses I HENRY GRoss, O. F. HESSER.

